New Delhi, March, 2023.

To make apprenticeship aspirational, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), under the aegis of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) today signed an MoU with one of India's best Manpower Solutions company and a leading Third Party Aggregator under the Apprentices act 2COMS to on board one lakh apprentices under the Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programmes (AEDP) in the next three years. The programme is aligned with the University Grant Commission (UGC) and National Credit Framework Qualification (NCFQ) under the National Education Policy 2020 with provisions for multiple entry and exit points to provide vertical and horizontal mobility across several disciplines.

The collaboration envisions to enable students to receive a UGC recognized degree coupled with practical work exposure to augment their employability and develop robust linkages between industry-academia to build creative thinking capabilities, problem solving and digital skills among the candidates. The MoU was exchanged between Shri Ved Mani Tiwari, National Skill Development Corporation and Shri. Prashant Pachisia, Director 2COMS.

The initiative will help propel the employ ability skills during the curriculum training through virtual models including guest lectures, reading materials, elaborate presentations, and other relevant material.The students will be trained in conducting effective supervision roles and will be providedwith the requisite skills and knowledge under UGC recognized degrees like Bachelor of Vocation, BBA in Retail, Customer Relationship Management, Hospitality, Logistics and Services and more.The partnership intends to provide free access to gaining life skills, soft skills, and English-speaking training with UGC accredited certifications including other trainings like POSH, improving time management and employ ability skills to increase the productivity and scalability of the candidates in the current work environment. 

Speaking on the development, Ved Mani Tiwari, CEO, NSDC said,apprenticeship which is learning while working is the best pathway for education-to-work transition. Therefore, it is integral that the aspirational value of apprenticeship is raised in the country and today’s collaboration is aimed at achieving the same. Another propeller in this direction is the milestone announcement in the Union Budget of extending support to youth through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) under National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS). Endeavours like these and today’s announcement will certainly help in the creation of a more vibrant and participative apprenticeship training.We at NSDC are committed to creating a skill ecosystem that democratizes opportunities for the Indian youth and prepares them for the future of work. Our collaboration with our esteemed partner, 2COMS will ensure that value of Degrees is increased more with experience and will assist the candidates in acquiring higher qualification and growth.

Prashant Pachisia Director 2COMS further added that Apprenticeship is the best and the most economical form of skilling. It is the only model wherein the industry directly is involved in the skilling. This Model of integrating Apprenticeships with formal degree programs will make apprenticeships’ aspirational

and simultaneously fill in the need for degrees for the trainee. This is a unique model which is being launched for the first time in the country.

Under the programme, the online degrees earned from recognized institutions shall be treated in par with UGC to provide a level playing field to the students and encourage them to opt for apprenticeship training. The students will have to earn required credits for the undergraduate programme and the certification, diploma and degree certificates will be awarded upon the completion of first-year, second year and the three-year of the programme, respectively.